Tufting machine



3 Sheets-Sheet l E. C. COVELL TUFTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 20, 1957 oct.24, 1939.

Oct. 24, 1939. E. c. covELL TUFTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.20, 1937 grwe/wbov rf/QL CH/:pM//N C0 VELA.

Oct. 24, 1939. E. c. covELL TUFTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20, 1937 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,176,957 Y Tormo MAcmNE Application November 20, 1937, Serial No.175,583

2 IClaims.

'I'his invention refers to sewing machines and more particularly to amachine that will do tufting, chenille and snowball work on cloth andfabrics. It has among its objects to provide a machine that will stitchwith a thread and produce and reproduce a mechanical reproduction ofhand tufting known as candlewick, chenille work, tufting, snowball workand work of a similar character on cloth; to have such a machinearranged that it will cut theloops individually as they are made andavoid bundling bunches' of loops of the thread in a. manner susceptibleto entangling and'unintentional breaking; to have such looping as may berequired in the chenille or other work, done without wasting thread notrequired or desirable between bunches of the tufting or having suchincluded in the work connecting the bunches and destroying theindividuality desirable above and below the cloth; to have the machineadapted for producing a variable number of arrangements and designs inthe doing of this type of cloth work, including the control of thelength of the threads or yarn used in the loops; varying the spacingbetween tufts. and varying the type of tufts; to have the machinearranged that hand removal of pieces of unnecessary and undesirablepieces of thread or yarn, afterwards is avoided; to provide for theeconomical and' protable doing of this work on the device; and otherobjects that will become apparent as the invention is more fully set.forth.

-In this invention, the device functioning similarly to that of aconventional sewing machine in general operation will take a yarn orthread and loop it through c1oth cut `each individual loop as soon asmade, until the predetermined v number are made, and then jump thespaces required without carrying a yarn or thread across the cloth, andproceed to repeat the stated work. In other types of machines usedheretofore, the' loops were cut several at a time, and the yarn wascarried from one set of loops to the next across the cloth underneath.Thisk arrangement served to cause a snagging of the yarn and the use ofan extra piece of yarn, which when added for the complete coverletamounted to aconsiderable length. This new invention economizes byavoiding the losses entailed-in using this extra yarn and avoids theincidental objections to the loose pieces from one set of loops to thenext. In this invention, the yarn is cut as soon as the last loop ineach set is stitched, leaving the set complete and allowing the needleto withiraw any stray amount of yarn left, for use when ;he needlev isoperated again. Since this machine permits the loops to be cutindividually, it allows snowballs to be placed on the coverlet, by usinga yarn of a large number of strands. The strands are spread out aftertheloop is cut and forms the snowball. Other features can be developedfrom the use of the machine by reason of its individuality in doing itswork and the fact that it has no loops or loose portions to entanglesame.

It uses a rotary knife that is preferably running continuously, forproviding a positive and efficient manner of cutting the threads and forproviding a knife that will more eiiectively cooperate with the other.mechanisms of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings are shown details of a device embodying'this invention, in 15 which: Y

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sewing machine embodying thisinvention, portions being broken away to indicate the generalconstruction and operation of incidental mechanisms Within it,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine indicated in Figure 1, portionsbeing brokenaway to clarify its operation, and construction,

Figure 3 is an end view in elevation at the 25 needle mechanism, insection, of the machine,

Figure 4 is a detail in section of the tensioning device used with themachine,

Figure 5 is a detail of a portion of the needle bar used in the machine,the end cover being removed,

Figure 6 is a detail in section of the cutter mechanism and looper usedin the machine,

Figure 7 is an end elevation partly in section of the cuttermechanismand-looper, Figure 8 is a view looking up under the slottedlooper,

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of cutter and looper taken along line9-9 of Figure 6,

Figure 10 is a, sectional elevation of cam and o mechanism taken alongline Ill- I0 of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters referto similar parts throughout thedrawings..

In the construction shown in the drawings I represents the main body'ofa sewing machine 45 with its rear end 2 provided with an operatingpulley 3 of the tight and loose type. For power l purposes this pulleyis provided with a belt 4 anda shifter 5. The needle end housing 6 is ofthe conventional T-shape formed internally for the functioning of theneedle mechanism. The bodyis supported on a bed-,plate l which set'sove1 its box 8 hollowed out to permit the functioning 'of the underneathsewing machine construction.

The body supports a crank shaft 9 through 55 `it as indicated and wellknown. The pulley 3 is II), at the needle mechanism end portion. Thismounted on this shaft lat the rear end. The shaft also operates aneccentric or crank member crank member has a crank block II attachedy toit for providing a reciprocating vertical travel to 4the, needle bar I2of the machine. This block is guided suitably in the needle end housingand the needle bar I2 in holes I4 drilled in the same.

A clutch casing I3 is mounted on the side of the block and arranged witha plunger I5 suitably tensioned with a spring I6 for insertion andwithdrawal from a slot I1 in the needle bar. This plunger serves totie-up the crank member with the needle bar so they will operatetogether, when the plunger is in the slot I1. The needle bar is releasedfrom such operation when the plunger is pulled away from the slot, andagainst the tension of the spring I6. The plunger has an adjustable headI8 exteriorly provided for attaching same to a control arm I9, which armpulls the plunger out from the slot at predetermined moments, during theoperation of the machine. This arm has a slot 20 in which the `headportion of the plunger can reciprocate vertically as the needle barmoves up and down. This arm, however, is subject to a sidewise movementthat will press on the plunger head and cause it to pull the plungerfrom the slot. 'I'his is done as its supporting spindle 2| rotatinglyrocks counter clockwise under the action of the periodic gear mechanismswhich are connected with it. The gear mechanism is supported on thesewing machine body I and connects with the main shaft tions of thisdevice. The cam 24 raises the shaft piece 1 I once every revolution.This raising movement is small and makes the arc of movement of theshaft piece 1I give the spindle 2| a torsional movement that is'like arocking movement. After `the cam has raised and continued its rotation,the shaft piece 1I rotates through the arc backwards under the action ofspring 66. An indicator handle 26 is provided for showing visually thestatus of the gearing.l The spindle in the position indicated isoperated by the cam 24. The spindle 2| is supported to the side of thebody I by journal members 43 in a horizontal position. The spindlerotates or oscillates through a small arc and the arm 1I is raised andlowered under the action of the cam 24. As the spindle moves, it carriesthe rod I2I attached tothe control arm I9 with it. When the direction ofthe movement of this rod I2I is to the right of Figure 3 and Figure 4 itallows the split pulley pieces 28 to come together under the pressure ofthe spring |29, and thereby tighten up on the thread 29 passing throughsame. This keeps the thread from feeding to the needle of the, machineand prevents wasting the thread between tufts. 'I'he lower portion ofthe control arm I9 also carries the plunger I5 with it at the same time,against the tension of the spring I6. This pulls the plunger out of theslot I1, in the needle bar I2 and y allows the bar to be stationary, andincidentally the spindle, control arm I9, and plunger I5 to return tothe normal position, with the plunger in the slot I1, then the needlebar is reciprocated by the mechanism of the machine and the needleproceeds again in its work. During this time, the rod I2I is operated toloosen the pulley pieces 28 and permit same to release the thread 29.The needle being connected to and operating with the needle barreciprocates and stitches through the cloth 3| on the throat plate 36. Asuitable support 32 secures the pieces 28 to the cover 34. The cloth isheld in position onthe throat plate by the conventional clampingmechanism 33. The throat plate has the usual toothed rack 35 providedfor moving the cloth along after each stitch, and functioning in aconventional manner.

The transmission section of the device with the gears 23, cams 24 and25, and shaft |22, have the connecting partsto operate, which consistsof the eccentric arms 10 and 1I which'operate the intermittent shifter124and tensioning coupler 13, which in turn connect thev oscillating bar14 and rod 2| respectively. 'I'he oscillating bar 14 is connected byhand to the shifter 12 through the use of a manual plunger 15, and whenconnected turns its crank arm 16 and throws the clutch member 11 whichhas control of the power for operating the sewing machine.l When thisclutch is thrown out, it shuts off the machine and stops the same. Thegears 23 are arranged to give a variable range of gear motions to thetransmission and are manipulated to suit through the shifter arm 18 in aconventional manner. When the manual plunger 15 is set, the gears 23operate until they move the shifter arm 10 and shut oi'the machine afterthe proper cycle of stitches are made by the gears 23 making theselected number of turns. The exible shaft 63 is operated by the use ofthe beveled gears 19 and 80. The eccentric arm 10 is operated by thecam25 by providing a bent piece 8| for it to contact; while the eccentricarm 1I has a similar bent piece 82 for the cam 24 to contact and operateas described. A cam 21 is provided for the purpose of giving acontinuousstitching action and is connected with the arm 1I by moving same over tothe slot 83 and tying it to the shaft 2| through the insertion of theplunger 84. 'This operation detaches the arm 1I from the cam 24.

The gear trains 23 and 23 transmit power at variable speeds from themain crank shaft 9 to the shaft |22 when the clutch, which is slidablyconnected to shaft |22 engages with the face of the selected gear train.This rotates the stitch timing cams 24, 25 and 21 and their respectivemechanism. The main crank shaft 9 operates the parts |I| and II andincidentally the needle mechanism. 'I'he thread 29 feeds from the spoolthrough the pulley pieces 28 to the ring 62 down to the eye of theneedle.

Under the throat plate 36 and secured suitably to the bed plate 1 arethe lshafts that support the cutter wheel31, the looper hook 38 and theincidental parts. 'Ihe looper hook 38 is operated from a conventionalfeed rocker shaft 39 connected with the feed forked connection 40 on thehead end of the machine, and actuated by the'rocker 4I with its pin 4-2.This pin 42 secures the cross plate 44 and oscillates it back and forthon a wave-like stroke in conjunction with the rocker crank 45 with itspin 46 in the slot 41. This closs-plate is preferably of the formindicated in the drawings, having a downward pointing U-piece 48 with aslot 49 for the pin 6l; and with the horizontally placed U- piece v 'Ihepin 50 is mounted in the bellcrank 52 which pivots on the pin 53, and isadjustable in the slot 54 in the underpost 55. The upper portion of thebell-crank 52 holds the looper 38. The looper is slotted at 58 in orderthat the circular cutter may pass into same and without hitting thelooper. This permits the looper and cutter wheel to work in similarplanes without interfering with each other. The cutter wheel is held inplace by the arm 51 in the central pin 58.

The upper portion of the needle bar has an extended nat spring member 59secured to it to raise the bar out of the way when the yarn is cut andthereby keep the end of the latter away from the cloth after being cut.This spring is suiiiciently strong to overcome the lighter coil spring60 used to keep the needle bar down. The needle for the yarn is held tothe needle bar by the collarvand set screw 6|. The spool of yarn issupported on the side of the body and its yarn passes through the ring62 to the pulley tensioning device 28 to the needle. As the needle isoperated by the needle bar, it raises and lowers the needle. The needlepasses through the throat plate and cloth, and where the moving forwardmotion of the looper catches the yarn as the needle is coming up. Thisholds a loop of the yarny which is carried along the looper spread outby the widening sides of same until the'slot 56 is reached. At thispoint the cutter wheel is moved on a curve into the looped yarn and byreason of its high rotation caused through the use of a ilexible shaft63, cut the loop through and leaves the ends and strands of the yarnhanging down from the face of the coverlet. The stitches continue, bentover on the inside face of the coverlet for holding the yarn to thecloth, and hanging down on the outsideface.

The adjustment of the looper and cutter wheel arm permits the cutterwheel and looper to place themselves where they can cut the yarn forvarious lengths.

This process continues until four or more stitches are made in thecoverlet and the loops cut. At the cutting of the last loop. the needlebar is disconnected from the plunger by reason of the movement of thespindle 2|, and raised by the action of the at spring 59.- This movementraises the needle and its yarn, the yarn in the ring 62 also rising to-prevent its looping around the throat plate and cloth on the machine.At the same time, the connecting stitch is taken out of the cloth, readyfor the next operation of stitching. In the meanwhile the cloth iscarried by the rack the number of stitch distances selected before thenext set of loops are put inthe coverlet.

While but one form of the invention is indicated in the drawings, it isnot desired to limit this application for patent to this particular formotherwise than limited by theprior art, as it is apreciated that otherconstructions could be used that would employ the same principles andcome within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A sewing machine for tufting, comprising in combination, a base, asewing machine body, a needle, a needle driving means, a disconnectibleconnection between the needle and driving means, a feed mechanismlocated in the base and body, a controlling mechanism for connecting anddisconnecting the needle from said driving means for predeterminedperiods, a mechanism operated by the controlling mechanism fortensioning the yarn in the needle when its mechanism is disconnectedfrom its driving means, cutter and looper mechanism and driving meanstherefor' for looping and cutting the yarn.

2. A sewing machine for tufting, comprising in combination, a base, asewing machine body attached to the base, a needle operating in saidbody, a needle driving mechanism for operating the needle, adisconnectible connection between the needle and said mechanism, aresilient member for said connection for keeping same in cooperativeattachment with each other, a fabric feed mechanism disposed in saidbase and body, a controlling mechanism operated through the drivingmechanism for operating the said resilient member so as to connect anddisconnect the needle from said driving mechanism for predetenninedperiods, a yarn holding mechanism mounted on the body interconnectedwith the controlling mechanism and in the line of travel of the yarn ofthe machine for tensioning the latter in the needle when the controllingmechanism is disconnected from its driving mechanism, cutter and loopermechanism and operating means therefor for looping and cutting the yarn.

EARL CHAPMAN COVELL.

